Shoe measuring device



United States Patent Office 3,332,151 SHOE MEASURING DEVICE Irvin R.Gressley, Milford, Iowa 52064 Filed Sept. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 398,857 3Claims. (Cl. 33-3.2)

This invention pertains to measuring devices and more specifically to asingle device adapted to measure both a shoe and the foot on which theshoe is to be worn.

In the tting of shoes, particularly on childrens feet, it is oftendesirable to know how much space there is between the toe of the childand the end of the shoe. Sometimes this can be learned by crushing thetoe of the shoe so that the childs toe can be felt. Some shoe tters areable to tell the location of the joint of the large toe. However,neither of these methods will satisfy all parents. Furthermore, neitheris as accurate as might be desired.

Several devices have been proposed to measure the comparative size ofthe shoe and foot. These have generally comprised fairly complexdevices; in some instances measuring the total length of the foot andshoe simultaneously and in other measuring the distance from the jointto the tip of the large toe.

By my device, I provide a simple inexpensive device capable of measuringthem comparatively. The device is simple enough to be used by anyone andcan be used t display quite accurately and graphically the amount ofroom remaining in the shoe for growth of a childs foot.

A more complete understanding of my invention in its embodiment may behad from a study of the following specifications and the accompanyingfigures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my device, and

FIG. 2 is a partial medial sectional view of the device showing theclamping arrangement.

Briey my invention comprises a device having a slidable guage which willt inside a shoe to measure the shoe, and is also adapted to be placed onthe sole of a foot to measure the foot.

More specifically, my device includes a rear stop which may take theappearance of a shoe horn, i.e. having a concave and a convex surface.Extending from the concave side of the rear stop from a point somewhatabove the lower edge 11 is a tongue 12. This tongue is formed to providea slot 13 extending along the length thereof.

A slide member 15 is sildably connected to the tongue 12. This isaccomplished by providing a slide housing 16 on the member 15. Ears 17on the housing embrace the tongue 12 so that the slide 15 may be freelyslidable relative to the tongue. A clamping handle 19 is threaded intothe member 15 so that a threaded stud 18 thereof extends through theslot 13. A shoulder 20 on the handle 19 engages the surface of thetongue 12 so that by screwing the handle down, the tongue 12 is clampedbetween the slide 15 and the shoulder 20 to prevent slipping of theslide from any adjusted position.

A graduated scale 21 may be provided on the tongue 12 adjacent anyappropriate part of the slide member `1S so that some relativeindication of size may be known.

This may be graduated according to shoe size or any other appropriatescale.

The use of my device is fairly obvious. When a shoe is to be tted, anapproximate size is chosen. The length of the inside of the shoe maythen be guaged by inserting my device into the shoe with the clampingaction of the handle 19 released. The rear stop 10 is held against the3,332,151 Patented July 25, 1967 inside of the heel of the shoe and theslide 15 is moved forward until it touches the inside of the toe. Theclamping handle 19 is then clamped down to hold the slide in place.

After setting the device, it can be withdrawn from the shoe and used tocompare that to the length of the foot. This is done by inverting thedevice and placing against the heel of a stockinged foot, that part ofthe rear stop 10 which extends below the tongue 12. Thus the tongue 12and slide 15 will extend toward, and beyond the toes of that foot. Theamount of extension of the slide beyond the foot is a measure of theamount of space within the shoes when the foot is inserted. Any shoetter will recognize that some allowance must be made for the extensionof the foot as weight is placed on it when stepping in a shoe. Still, bymy device a reasonably accurate comparison is possible quickly and alsois readily demonstrable. The device is -relatively inexpensive and iseasy t0 operate. Thus, it is capable of use by almost anyone in thefitting of shoes and can be used to convince parents, and otherpurchasers of shoes as to the adequacy of the size of the shoe.

Having thus described my invention in its embodiment I am aware thatfurther and extensive variations may be made therefrom without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention as limited only by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A device for measuring shoes or the like comprising stop meansadapted to ft the interior of the heel of a shoe, tongue means fixed tosaid stop means, said stop means extending on both sides of said tonguemeans whereby the extension thereof on one side is usable to lit theheel of a foot on which the shoe is to be worn, slide means slidablyconnected to said tongue means, and clamp means engaged between saidtongue means and said slide means to hold said slide means in anyadjusted position relative to said slide means.

2. For comparatively measuring a yfoot and a shoe to be tted onto saidfoot, said shoe having a closed toe and a heel, a device comprising stopmeans having a concave surface and a convex surface being adapted to fitagainst the interior of said heel, tongue means extending from saidconcave surface, said tongue means being formed to provide a slottherein, said stop means extending on both sides of said tongue meanswhereby the extension thereof on one side is usable to ft the heel of a:foot on which the shoe is to be worn, slide means slidably connected tosaid tongue means and extending adjacent to said slot, clamping meansextending through said slot and threadedly engaged with said slidemeans, said clamping means having shoulders engaged with said tonguemeans adjacent to said slot, said clamping means being thereby adaptedto hold said slide means releasably in fixed adjusted position relativeto said tongue means, said slide means being adapted to extend into saidtoe and to engage the extremity thereof.

3. For comparatively measuring a foot and a shoe to be fitted on saidfoot, said shoe having a closed toe and heel, a device comprising stopmeans having a concave surface and a convex surface, said convex surfacebeing adpated to engage the interior surface of said heel, tongue meansextending from said concave surface, said tongue means being formed witha slot therein, slide means slidably engaged with said tongue means andextending adjacent said slot, handle means threadably engaged with saidslide means and extending through said slot, said handle means beingengageable with said tongue means adjacent said slot to provide aclamping arrangement whereby said handle can be clamped and released byturning in said threadable engagement and whereby said handle isattached to said slide means to move it relative to said tongue means,said stop means extending a substantial distance on both sides of saidtongue means whereby a portion of said concave surface may be engagedwith the rear of said foot for measuring the foot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,678 4/1918 Lapoint 33-1431,676,360 7/1928 Schwartz 33--158 5 1,689,040 10/1928 Marron 33-3.23,120,057 2/ 1964 Ludwig 33-3.2

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

10 L. V. ANDERSON, Assistant Examiner.

3. FOR COMPARATIVELY MEASURING A FOOT AND A SHOE TO BE FITTED ON SAIDFOOT, SAID SHOE HAVING A CLOSED TOE AND HEEL, A DEVICE COMPRISING STOPMEANS HAVING A CONCAVE SURFACE AND A CONVEX SURFACE, SAID CONVEX SURFACEBEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID HEEL, TONGUE MEANSEXTENDING FROM SAID CONCAVE SURFACE, SAID TONGUE MEANS BEING FORMED WITHA SLOT THEREIN, SLIDE MEANS SLIDABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID TONGUE MEANS ANDEXTENDING ADJACENT SAID SLOT, HANDLE MEANS THREADABLY ENGAGED WITH SAIDSLIDE MEANS AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT, SAID HANDLE MEANS BEINGENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TONGUE MEANS ADJACENT SAID SLOT TO PROVIDE ACLAMPING ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY SAID HANDLE CAN BE CLAMPED AND RELEASED BYTURNING IN SAID THREADABLE ENGAGEMENT AND WHEREBY SAID HANDLE ISATTACHED TO SAID SLIDE MEANS TO MOVE IT RELATIVE TO SAID TONGUE MEANS,SAID STOP MEANS EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ON BOTH SIDES OF SAIDTONGUE MEANS WHEREBY A PORTION OF SAID CONCAVE SURFACE MAY BE ENGAGEDWITH THE REAR OF SAID FOOT FOR MEASURING THE FOOT.